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May 12, 2014

BLOG TALK: DO YOU TALK ABOUT YOUR BLOG?

A few weeks ago, I heard some people talking about social media. You know, those sites that us bloggers use to share photos, stories, links, and the like? Well, when I was listening to these people talk, I realized just how differently they saw it. They viewed instagram as a means to take selfies and they had no idea what Tumbling was (okay, I'm no expert at that, either). And they most definitely did not have time for blogging, or whatever that word meant.

As I was listening, I couldn't help but feel my stomach turn. If you had asked me, blogging was and is a huge chunk of my life. It's my space, my second home, if you will. Sure, social media is weird and a fairly unknown (and sometimes dangerous) territory but it can also be an amazing community of people, too.

It's where I've formed some of my closest friendships and found people who are just like me. I feel welcomed and loved and am so blessed to be a part of it.

That said, there seems to be a big difference between the people who read/write blogs and the people who don't. And as bloggers who live in a world that doesn't fully understand blogging, how do you bring the two together? Or do you even bother at all? To be honest, I don't talk about blogging with my friends and family. My family knows I blog but I don't really talk about it. They'll poke fun at my Pinterest use (or over-use) and my now natural habit of taking photos of everything, but I don't really talk about what goes on on my blog.

So here's where I want to know about you and your blog. Do you talk about it? When people ask what you do for a living, do you include blogging? For me, blogging doesn't bring in the bacon, but it has brought healing and friendships that will last a lifetime. Do your loved ones read your blog? Do they know it exists?

So let's talk about blogging. I'm all ears and I know you have thoughts on this...or at least I hope so!

36 comments

I've started adding in the "photographer, blogger" when people ask about what I do. It usually comes after the mom thing. Ha! And I usually make it as simple as possible for non-internet people who have no clue what blogging is. And I sometimes get weird looks. But whatever. And that's a good time to hand them a card with my blog address on it... helps them understand some!

Ooh, I could see how a business card makes things easier to understand (and more legit, too!). :) I've actually thought about getting some for my blog but because I change up the design so often, I haven't been able to commit to what it would look like, haha. :)

my family knows that i blog and a few select friends do. i mean i talk about it on instagram and twitter sometimes, but i don't announce it to all my friends. i feel like it'd be kinda weird for everyone i know to read it and talk about it all the time. but that could be because i'm awkward :)

No you're not awkward at all because I feel the same way! Well, either that, or we're both awkward, haha. :) But really, I always feel weird putting it out there because I talk about so my life, my singleness and all that so openly when I'm pretty much the opposite in person (it's the introvert in me). I guess blogging is like a secret side of me, haha!

For me it depends on who I'm talking to. You are so right about how people who don't blog just don't seem to get it. I have a lot of "in real life" friends on my instagram who know I blog but don't read it and don't care one way or another. I don't ever make a point to hide it, but I don't always put it out there either, if that makes sense. My boyfriend understands that even though I've never "met" a lot of the people I know through blogging, we are still close. He understands why I cry when a blog friend suffers a tragedy or why I'm excited when has something amazing happens in their lives. My mom doesn't get it. But she's still pretty wary of any social media in general. The blogging community is a pretty amazing place though and I'm so happy to be a part of it!

I get what you mean. I think it definitely changes depending on who you talk to. Talking about blogging with my grandparents, for instance, would be just crazy (and hard since it's so complex!). :) But my immediate family knows that I have lots of blog friends and seem to be okay with it, too.

And that's great to hear that your boyfriend seems to get this blogging thing! I think it's great to have a support system like that. :)

For me, there are a few people I talk about my blog a lot, my husband and a few friends. Most friends know I blog, but we only talk about it if they bring it up. I don't know why I'm this way at all. The other day I was meeting some new people and chatting about what we do for a living and I felt a part of me want to say I'm a blogger, but then I didn't. Blogging is such a different world, in a good way! I want to start being more open about blogging just because of how big of a part of my life it has become!

I feel the same exact way! And I've also been in the situation where I've been tempted to talk about my blog but have refrained.

Like you said, blogging is definitely an entirely different world--but a good one at that! I feel like while it is such a simple thing to explain, it's also something that is so complex and wayyy harder to understand when you're not a part of it (especially the community part!). :)

i'm pretty sure the only people i know (in 'real' life) who read my blog are my mom and close friend. when i tell people i have a blog, it's usually to those who understand what a blog is. otherwise, i have to explain it and get super confused looks and more questions. blogging is my creative outlet and i have 'met' some very awesome ladies (read: YOU) via blogs and social media.

ps: be watching for some snail mail from me. i know it's like two months late, but hey - that's okay. :)

I feel the same way. I feel like people either get it or they scratch their heads and think I'm a crazy lady (or an even crazier one?). Anyway, so glad you have met you through blogging! I love that I get to meet people that I would otherwise never get a chance to meet. :)

Oh, and I've got some snail mail for you, too! I just have to buy some more stamps first!

This post made me smile so big! My family knows I blog...My Mom binge reads it and my sister checks it DAILY and reminds me when I haven't posted about something she thinks I need to post about. :)I have a few friends/extended family who "accidentally" got told about my blog, but they NEVER say anything about it.

For years no one knew I blogged except my Mom and I didn't even comment on other blogs in a way that would allow people to make their way to mine...Then I stopped for a bit and back in 2012 when I kind of started over I decided that even though I still didn't like the idea of putting my blog out there out there, I would at least try to connect with other bloggers. I am SO gladI did that.

I do kind of wonder what I'm missing out on by not telling everyone I know about this blogging thing/sharing my posts on FB and everything that "real" bloggers do....but not enough to convince me! :)

Two things I always wonder: HOW do people take their big cameras EVERYWHERE and take pictures of EVERYTHING (I'm especially talking about the artsy shots people take at restaurants that were clearly NOT taken from their seat) and WHAT do bloggers do with business cards (I imagine being in line at the grocery store and a book or topic or place coming up and the blogger saying, "Oh, here, have my card, I just posted about that on my blog!")

So...Nope, you're not alone. I'm a "quiet" blogger and I have questions too! :)

I'm so glad we've connected! I went through periods of time when I felt like blogging was a waste of time but I'm glad I stuck with it because it's actually quite the opposite. I love that I get to meet people (like you!) who I would otherwise never get a chance to meet and I love that I can talk and share my heart with people who get me and still (kind of?) love me anyway, haha. :)

And I get what you mean about not telling everyone. I feel like a lot of people do share their blog openly with others, but it really isn't in my DNA. I'm just not that kind of person. I feel like it's almost weird for people to know about my heart when they don't reciprocate OR if it's something that I would never tell them in person (it's the introvert in me!).

I also wonder the same things! I tend to carry my camera along with me everywhere I go but I rarely stand up and take photos of stuff or other people because I don't like to be noticed! I obviously need to work on my street photography. :) And I've also wondered the same thing about business cards! I don't have any but I can only imagine myself getting some if I was going to some blog conference or something. So glad I'm not the only one who's wondered! :)

I don't usually ever mention my blog in conversation. There have been a few times where I say "Oh my blog friend..." but I only go into more detail if people seem interested. For now, mine is just a hobby. I think if I wrote a blog that was more of a brand, like A Cup of Jo, I would publicly recognize it more as my job or "what I do"

Same, same, same. I've definitely talked about my blog friends with my immediate family, but I feel weird talking about it with anyone else who doesn't get it. I'm also in the place where my blog is a hobby. I actually really like keeping it as such (as opposed to a business) because I like posting on my terms and not on the terms of others (i.e. sponsorships).

But I also agree with what you said about having a big blog or a brand. I think that I would do the same thing, too in that case!

good thoughts and conversation starters here.i don't always bring up my "blogging life"...it can just be weird. sometimes i'll say "my blog friend" or "on my blog"...but since i don't make $$ doing this, and it's just for fun...then it is what it is. i sometimes share my blog links on facebook...and some of my family reads it.

but i'm with you, bringing up blogging to people who don't...gets you weird looks. most people think it is an online diary, which to an extent, yes - it is....but it also...ISN'T ...it is weird haha.

Oh girl, I've got my fair share of weird looks and that's before I start talking about blogging (awkward, much?). :) Anyway, I do talk about my blog friends (like you!) with my immediate family and they know that I get snail mail and other stuff because of my blog, too. But I don't talk about it at work (even though I've had some of my work friends compliment my ability to take photos of the "random everyday stuff") because I don't really want to open a whole new can of worms. That, and it just feels weird sharing my online diary with people who could read it when I least expect it, haha. :)

Anyway, I also love that tug of war with defining what a blog is. It really is an online diary of sorts. And yet it's also a personal journal, too. One that's seems a little more open and less private, you know?

I LOVE this post Kiki! Thanks for bringing up what we are all thinking about and wondering! It's such a weird thing...blogging. I used to post my blog to Facebook all the time- and now that I am more regular with blogging, and enjoy writing more than just like "newsletters" ....I think that people think it's super weird that I post recipes, and random photos, and thoughts on hair washing. Maybe I am just self conscious about it...but I definitely try to keep it on the down low. With my husband....NO. We talk about it lots, he is super supportive and knows some of my blog friends by name! I have found beautiful community blogging...and so I hate that I feel slightly self conscious about my passion for blogging. Thanks for writing this lady!

I'm glad I've gotten comments like yours as feedback! I always feel weird blogging about blogging because I know we all have our own opinions on blogging and what's right or wrong. I'm also glad there are other people out there who wonder the same things I do! I feel like there are a lot of people who share their blogs and blog posts openly but being an introvert, it really just is NOT my cup of tea. A lot of times my singleness posts are things that I would never share with most of my friends so it just seems weird to think that they could read those kinds of posts at any time of day, you know?

Anyway, I'm glad your husband is supportive of your blog! I honestly cannot imagine being in a relationship with someone who wasn't supportive of my blog. :)

And I, too, am grateful for this community! I've only announced my blog on Facebook ONCE because I felt like I needed to. But I haven't really felt the need to since. But that doesn't mean that I don't ever think about my self-consciousness in terms of blogging! I've personally found it hard in terms of sharing my faith, if that makes any sense.

p.s. So glad we can both blog on the down low. It makes it seem like some secret alias or something, haha. :)

Talking about blogging for me is really awkward. When I started my blog a few years ago I'd always post the link to new posts on my personal Faebook page for friends and family to read. It was a means to write what I was doing/feeling and let everyone read it- like a one-sided conversation that kept them in the loop.Then I started making blog friends. I LOVE my blog friends and haven't ever experienced negatives in the blog world. After that, my blog posts started to be geared toward these new friends who knew nothing about me. I posted the links on my Facebook less and less and now I'm to the point where if someone in my real life mentions my blog/comments on my post it freaks me out because it really wasn't meant for them to read. It's weird that I've compartmentalized blogging so much. These place on the Internet where I write about my life is actually very disconnected from it. Funny how that happened!I really never mention in IRL. My husband knows and is supportive. He likes that I have an outlet (unless I over-share about our relationship...oops!). I do mention my blog friends a lot in conversation though. I'll say "Oh my friend ____ who lives in ____ had ____ happen, too!" or whatever. I just leave out the fact that we've never met but we're still friends lol.

You and me both! I definitely feel the awkwardness just thinking about trying to explain blogs to my grandparents. :) I'm actually kind of glad I'm not a big blogger because I cannot imagine being at a point where people recognize you on the street and tell you about how they read your blog or something. I've definitely compartmentalized blogging, too! I love that you said that your blog about life really is disconnected from it. I feel the same way and I couldn't have said it better.

I'm glad your husband is supportive of your blog! It's definitely going to be a make or break quality of my future husband. :)

And I feel like we must be twins or something because I've said the same thing IRL. I've told people that I have a friend who's done such and such and then realized I was talking about a blog friend. I guess this just means I need to meet some more bloggers in my area or something! :)

Some of my friends know that I have a blog, my close friends at least. But the new friends that I've made recently in Grad school, don't know that I have a blog- sometimes i don't know how to bring it up or that they will think i'm weird for having one. you know? But I have found great community through blogging, it's awesome! And i'm so thankful for friends like you :)

I know those exact feelings. I feel like a lot of people would look at me weird if I mentioned I had a blog (AND had blog friends on top of that!) because I am so quiet and introverted in person (aka I wouldn't talk about my singleness in the way I do online in real life, if that makes any sense!). :)

But just because I don't talk about it, doesn't mean that I'm not grateful for the community either! This community has made such a positive impact on my life and I can't imagine not having it!

Oh, I love love love this! You've brought up a great topic of conversation. Funny, my family NEVER mentions my blog, although I know they know that I have one. It seems kind of like my secret life, which is wierd and bit sad. I really wish my mom, especially, would show interest and leave comments on some of my posts. I've sent them links to blog posts that are written for them (birthday posts), but I don't receive much feedback. Blogging is definitely a blessing to me in that it has brought me so many great friends--some I consider real life friends even though we haven't met. I'm so thankful for these connections and friendships. It's the main reason why I blog, although I had no idea at the beginning that it was even possible to form friendships through blogging!

Blogging really is a secret life of mine! I feel like I get home from work and plug into my blog life instead. It's like I've got an alias as a blogger or something. :) But I also agree with you that it's both weird AND sad. Another blogger mentioned that we blog about our lives so openly and yet we tend to disconnect our blogs from our life. And I think it is kind of weird and sad. I feel like I should be more open about it and yet I kind of like keeping it to myself, if you will.

But just because there is a disconnect doesn't mean I don't appreciate the blogging community! I, too, feel like I've met so many amazing women (like you!) and can't imagine quitting anytime soon. There's way too much out there for me to learn and discover to quit now!

I might be the odd ball out. Everyone in my "real" world knows that I blog and they often ask me about it. BUT I quit by day job to pursue blogging and a handmade shop and everyone knew about that. I had tons of people praying over and for me regarding that change in my life. However, it is really hard for me sometimes when people ask me what I do for a living. I actually usually lead with what Tyler does and then I'll talk about what I do. Telling people in LA doesn't bother me, but when I have to travel and tell people I always wonder if they are going to look at me weird and I wonder what they are really thinking about when I tell them.

You're not the odd one out! I actually think a lot of people DO share with the Facebook or IRL friends. I've only shared my link with my FB friends once and it was only because I felt like it could be another way to share my faith. But then I started sharing more about my singleness and stuff and felt like it wasn't something that I would/could actually share out in the open with them and it just felt a little too diary-ish for them to read, if that makes any sense. But that doesn't mean that I don't sometimes feel disconnected in terms of my "real" life and my blog life! I know I've told you this time and time again, but I really and truly do admire you for pursuing this amazing dream and journey and I think it's great that you had such a great support system in the beginning (and now!), too. :)

And I can totally see how location changes how you talk about blogging. Where I live, talking about blogging would be a little too out of the ordinary. But I could totally see how somewhere like LA would be a completely different story!

There are so many people who don't get what I do or who I want to become. A lot of people use social media to brag and/or complain which is why a lot of people view me as a little bit self-absorbed, but my blog is nothing of the sort. I want to be known as a story-teller, someone who tells the story of my life as well as others.I want to be able to shed life on real world issues that I face as well as encourage and support others. Through my blog I have met some of my closest friends and the funny thing is, I have never met them. Isn't is strange that the people I see everyday are not the people who understand me the most?This platform is such a unique and wonderful place. It allows me to be myself. I have control over it and I also am able to read the stories of others and be encouraged by them. It is so so good! Couldn't imagine my life without it now <3

Wow, you pretty much summed up my thoughts on blogging! I, too, think a lot of people view social media as a means to speak their opinions and complain or gloat and that's part of the reason why I don't do a lot of Facebook and such. BUT, blogging to me is the complete opposite! I find that blogging allows a reader to get a fuller picture of the blogger (well, depending on the blog, that is) and it really allows for heart-y stories to be told, too. It really is like a not-so-private diary.

And I also love what you said about how blog friends are closer than IRL friends. I'm the same way! A lot of times the people I interact with in person the most know the least about me. And the more I think about it, the weirder it is. :) But I really am so grateful for this blog of mine and am so grateful that I get to be a part of it!

This is interesting. I guess when I think about it, I don't really talk about my blog. Rarely do I have in person discussions about what someone may have read on my blog. And I definitely don't have discussions about blogging itself. I'm not sure why. Most of my IRL friends only know that I blog because of a link I share on FB, I don't bring it up.

I see my blogging as a way I share my heart and bringing it up in person seems so vulnerable I guess.

Same! It pretty much never comes up and I think it's mostly because I choose NOT to bring it up. And as you mentioned, for me, it really does have to do with vulnerability. I'm an introvert so half of the time, the things that I talk about on my blog are things that I would never really bring up in conversations with people. Which is a little weird considering that I'm wayyy more open online with "complete strangers" than with people I see every single day. :)

I also have that awkward not talking about blogging thing. At least not with my family. I mention it occasionally to them, but I definitely talk about it a lot more with friends. Most of them don't quite understand it though, and it really is hard to incorporate something so important to us into a world that doesn't really "get it". I just know that I'm so thankful for all of it!

Yeah, I feel like there are a few people I could talk about blogging with, but they're all non-bloggers so even if I did, I don't think they would really understand. But fortunately I have my blog friends (like you!) who do! :)

This is definitely a relevant topic for me. My family definitely all knows that I blog, and I know they read along because they will mention themes from my posts from time to time. But, as far as friends go, it's definitely not been something that I broadcast about. Occasionally, a friend will find my blog somehow, and be really excited about it, but I always feel as though my cover has been blown, which is silly. (Whew! How's that for a run on sentence?) Anyway, I'm not sure why I don't talk about it more, but maybe I should?

Sorry I didn't see your comment until now, Lauren! For some reason, I guess it got marked with other Anonymous (read:spam) comments. Sorry about that!

Anyway, I feel like I'm with you in terms of blogging (except my family doesn't read it--or they do so secretly, haha). I also love what you said about feeling like your cover is blown. Occasionally, friends will comment or tell me about my blog and I get really self-conscious about it, it's actually kind of funny. :) I definitely waver between sharing more about it and not, but right now, I kind of like just having this be my secret identity! :)

My family not only knows I blog, they all read it! And talk to me about it. Haha. Actually, most of the people who know me in real life know I have a blog and read it at least occasionally. I have no secrets ;)